women do not demand this right. That is no reason
why they should not be required to exercise it. It is their right
because it is their duty. It is their duty because it is their
right. We have the most glorious inheritance that God ever gave
to a nation, the privilege of governing ourselves. Where does
self-government begin? Where does it reside? In the individual.
No individual that can not govern himself can contribute in the
least toward the government of the country in which he lives. He
becomes a burden, if not a curse. Knowing that women have the
same moral powers as men, the same intellectual powers, the same
affections, that they are governed by the same laws, and amenable
to the same government, who can doubt that if they were made
sensible of their responsibilities in the government of the
country, and that they can not contribute in the least to the
well-being of the community unless they can contribute those
virtues and graces which constitute the true government of one's
self; this would have the most inspiring and elevating influence
upon them? Think you they would continue to be the servants of
mere fashion, as too many of them now are? By our refusal to act
in accordance with the eternal principles of righteousness set
forth in the Declaration of Independence and in the preamble of
the Constitution of the country, we have been brought into a
terrible civil war, which has resulted in a disorganized
condition requiring reconstruction. Why should we not see to it
that our country as a whole, and that each individual State of
the country, shall be reconstructed on this true basis, so that,
if possible, nothing may be left to be done hereafter to improve
the foundations on which this nation rests?

Many say, "One thing at a time. You have been struggling for the
abolition of slavery and obtained that; and now claim the
political rights of the colored men, and will undoubtedly get
them. Why can't you be satisfied?" Because that would leave a
tremendous wrong at the foundation of our country. What will be
the consequence, God only knows, should we dare to go on with
such a fatal mistake in the basis of our institutions. It is
presumption to suppose that we can do this without incurring,
sooner or later, awful consequences. We can no